Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang presents a gift to Russian Minister of Defence Andrey Removich Belousov. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Vinh

MOSCOW — Minister of National Defence Gen Phan Văn Giang and his Russian counterpart Andrey Removich Belousov on August 13 held talks in Moscow as part of Giang’s visit to Russia to attend the International Military-Technical Forum “Army-2024”.

At the talks, Giang emphasised that the visit by the high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence aims to concretise the policy of deepening the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership agreed upon by the two countries' senior leaders during the Russian President's State visit to Việt Nam in June this year.

Giang affirmed that Việt Nam has always been consistent in its foreign policy of "independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship and development cooperation, multilateralisation and diversification of relations; being a friend, a reliable partner and an active and responsible member of the international community"; valuing neighbourly relations and traditional friendship with other countries, particularly the good traditional friendship between Việt Nam and Russia.

He clearly affirmed Việt Nam’s "four Nos" defence policy (not partaking in military alliances, not siding with one country to act against another, not allowing foreign countries to set military bases or use Việt Nam’s territory to counter a third country; not using force or threatening to use force in international relations) for the goal of peace, self defence and safeguarding the Fatherland early and from afar.

The minister reiterated that the Vietnamese people and People's Army always bear in mind the whole hearted support that Russia has given to Việt Nam during its struggle for national liberation and reunification in the past and the current national construction and defence cause. He said the inaugural of the monument to Vietnamese international volunteer soldiers who fought in battles to protect Moscow in the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) is a symbol of the traditional ties between the two countries, of which defence cooperation is an important pillar.

For his part, Minister Belousov said Russia is ready to consider cooperation proposals of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence, especially training cooperation and cooperation between agencies and units.

He agreed to promote the signing of cooperation documents between the two sides in the coming time. In addition, he backed the expansion of cooperation to new fields in accordance with the capabilities and conditions of each country.

Discussing the world and regional situation and issues of mutual concern with the host, the Vietnamese minister emphasised Việt Nam's consistent stance of resolving all disputes and disagreements by peaceful means, on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); international and regional commitments such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); and the country's support for the early signing of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) that is substantive, effective and legally binding.

The two ministers agreed that the two sides will continue to coordinate to promote defence cooperation, focusing on exchanging delegations at all levels; effectively maintaining existing cooperation mechanisms; human resources training; cooperation between military branches; scientific research cooperation within the framework of the Việt Nam - Russia Tropical Centre; and effective coordination and consultation at multilateral mechanisms and forums. — VNS